Container deposit return system

Abstract

A container deposit return system having a housing, a crushing assembly and a control system. The crushing assembly is positioned within the housing and has a first crushing wall and a second crushing wall spaced apart from the first crushing wall defining a crush cavity, and, a crushing wall movement assembly structurally configured to move the first crushing wall relative to the second crushing wall to direct the first crushing wall toward and away from the second crushing wall. The two crushing walls are configured crush a container that is positioned within the crush cavity. The control system having at least one imaging sensor, the imaging sensor configured to record an image the container before crushing and after crushing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A container deposit return system having:
 a housing; 
 a crushing assembly positioned within the housing, the crushing assembly having a first crushing wall and a second crushing wall spaced apart from the first crushing wall defining a crush cavity, and, a crushing wall movement assembly structurally configured to move the first crushing wall relative to the second crushing wall to direct the first crushing wall toward and away from the second crushing wall, to, in turn, crush a container positioned within the crush cavity through crushing contact by and between the first and second crushing walls; 
 a lock selectively allowing and precluding access into the crush cavity; and 
 a control system, the control system having at least one imaging sensor, the imaging sensor is positioned within the housing and configured to record an image of the crush cavity between the first and second crushing walls and the container within the crush cavity between the first and second crushing walls before crushing of the container and after crushing of the container, 
 wherein the imaging sensor is configured to record an image of the crush cavity, the first and second crushing walls and the container before and after crushing the container while a top wall assembly remains in a second closed position and the bottom wall remains in a first retain position, locking the crush cavity and precluding access thereto during activation of the image sensor to record the image of the container before crushing and after crushing, and 
 wherein the crushing assembly is configured to start crushing the container, after the imaging sensor records the image of the container before crushing the container, and unlocking after the image sensor records the image of the container after crushing. 
 
     
     
       2. The container deposit return system of  claim 1  wherein the control system further includes a can identifying sensor structurally configured to identify the can through a bar code on the can. 
     
     
       3. The container deposit return system of  claim 1  wherein the first crushing wall further includes an inner side having a centering surface which is structurally configured to center the can thereon. 
     
     
       4. The container deposit return system of  claim 3  wherein the centering surface further includes a central region, a first side incline positioned to one side of the central region and a second side incline positioned to a second side of the central region, the first and second inclined portions extending away from the central region and also toward the second crushing wall. 
     
     
       5. The container deposit return system of  claim 1  wherein the second crushing wall further comprises a puncture assembly, comprising a plurality of pins extendable through a plurality of openings in the second crushing wall and a biasing member biasing the pins relative to the second crushing wall, whereupon overcoming the biasing member, the plurality of pins extend through the plurality of openings. 
     
     
       6. The container deposit return system of  claim 1  wherein the crush cavity is defined by the first crushing wall and the second crushing wall, a first side containing wall and a second side containing wall positioned opposite the first side containing wall, the first side and second side containing walls spanning between the first crushing wall and the second crushing wall, a top wall assembly movable from a first open position to a second closed position, and a bottom wall movable from a first retain position to a second disposal position. 
     
     
       7. The container deposit return system of  claim 1  wherein the crushing wall movement assembly comprises a linear actuator including at least one lead screw assembly and a motor rotatably coupled to the lead screw assembly. 
     
     
       8. The container deposit return system of  claim 7  wherein the at least one lead screw assembly further includes a lead screw having a first end and a second end, with the first end being rotatably coupled to the motor, and rotatably coupled to one of the frame and the second crushing wall, and a second end, and with a lead nut fixedly coupled to the first crushing wall with the lead screw extending through the lead nut, whereupon rotation of the lead screw, the lead screw interfaces with the lead nut to translate the first crushing wall one of toward and away from the second crushing wall. 
     
     
       9. The container deposit return system of  claim 7  wherein the at least one lead screw assembly comprises two lead screw assemblies, each positioned on opposing sides of the first crushing wall. 
     
     
       10. The container deposit return system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first crushing wall and the second crushing wall includes an inclined lip at the lower end thereof. 
     
     
       11. The container deposit return system of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises a frame having a base and a back wall upstanding from the base; and a cover, the cover having a top, a front, a first side and a second side, wherein the frame and the cover cooperatively define an inner cavity, with the crushing assembly being positioned therein, and wherein the top of the cover includes an access opening providing access to the crush cavity. 
     
     
       12. The container deposit return system of  claim 1  further comprising a housing mount system. 
     
     
       13. The container deposit return system of  claim 12  wherein the housing mount system further comprises a floor stand having a receiving platform, and a plurality of legs depending therefrom, collectively defining a lower cavity configured to receive a recycling tote. 
     
     
       14. The container deposit return system of  claim 13  wherein the housing mount system further comprises a wall mount plate that is releasably securable to an outside wall and releasably securable to the housing to facilitate the mounting thereof to the outside wall. 
     
     
       15. A method of refunding a deposit on a container comprising the steps of:
 providing a container deposit return system of  claim 1 ; 
 establishing communication between a server and the can deposit return system; 
 receiving at the server an identification of the type of a container introduced into the container deposit return system; 
 receiving at the server an image of a container before crushing and an image of the container after crushing; 
 determining a match between the identification of the type of container and the image of the container before crushing and the image of the container after crushing; and 
 refunding the deposit on the container if the step of determining determines a match. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of refunding of  claim 15  further comprising the step of:
 transmitting to the container deposit return system the identifications of acceptable ones of a type of container. 
 
     
     
       17. A method of utilizing a container deposit return system comprising the steps of:
 providing a container deposit return system of  claim 1 ; 
 placing the control system into communication with a server; 
 introducing a container into the crush cavity of the container deposit return system; 
 locking the crush cavity to preclude access thereto; 
 taking a first image of the container within the crush cavity prior to crushing of the container; 
 crushing the container within the crush cavity; 
 taking a second image of the container within the crush cavity after crushing of the container; 
 opening the crush cavity only after the steps of taking a first image, crushing the container and taking a second image; 
 transmitting the first image and the second image to the server; and 
 removing the container from the crush cavity after the step of opening the crush cavity. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  further comprising the steps of:
 obtaining an identification of the container prior to taking the first image of the container; 
 comparing the identification of the container with a listing of known identifications to determine a match; and 
 identifying one of a match and a no match to the user.